“Almost everyone has
been affected by cancer in one way or another. Be it a family member, a brother
or sister, or a close friend, we have all seen the devastation cancer can cause,”
Steve Antoline said. “But many great institutions and universities, including
WVU, have come a long way with early detection methods, and in many cases,
treatment that can help a cancer patient live a long and productive life. How
great it would be if, with the help of research dollars, the cure for cancer
was found at WVU.”

The endowment was
established several years ago by WVU men’s basketball coach
Bob Huggins and his family in memory of Huggins’ mother who died of cancer. Current value of the endowment, including the
estate gift from the Antolines, is approximately $3 million.

“The Steve Antoline family has had such a positive influence
in not just WVU athletics but our great University as a whole.,” Huggins said.
“Their love for philanthropy and the University have enabled many programs to
prosper. On behalf of my entire family, we would like to thank Steve and Jamie
for their generous gift to help find a cure for this terrible disease. Let’s
find a cure for cancer.”

Steve Antoline and Bob
Huggins became friends after Huggins returned to his alma mater to coach the
Mountaineers. Antoline says the two began taking fishing trips together and
became good friends, often talking about opportunities to make a difference.

“I am tremendously
inspired by his work ethic and his role in giving back. He works tirelessly as
WVU head basketball coach, and also to raise money for his mom’s cancer research
fund,” Antoline said of Huggins. “I’m also very impressed with the research the
WVU Cancer Institute is doing and I’m
honored and proud to be a part of it.”

Richard M. Goldberg,
MD, director of the WVU Cancer Institute said, “We are exceedingly grateful
to the Antolines for their tremendous generosity to WVU and the WVU Cancer
Institute. The Antoline’s gift is a testimony to the faith they have that WVU
is now and will continue to make a profound and positive impact on the health
and well-being of West Virginians with cancer now and for many years to
come. This is an investment of great
magnitude that will advance clinical research statewide leading to cutting edge
approaches and will improve treatment for the patients we serve.”

Steve Antoline, who
earned his Regents Bachelor of Arts degree
from WVU, founded Superior Highwall Miners, Inc., a Beckley-based company which
grew into the world’s largest manufacturer of highwall mining equipment. He
later sold the company to Lehman Brothers. Antoline currently operates several
oil and gas wells, a property development company, and is a member of the West
Virginia Investment Management Board.

Jamie Antoline
currently serves as president of the board of directors of the Nicholas County
Veterans Memorial Park. She also volunteers her time at the New Life Christian
Academy, and passionately supports the 4-H program.

The Antolines have been
generous supporters of WVU for many years.
Their donations have helped to fund scholarships, programs, research and
facilities in several areas of the University, including Athletics, WVU Medicine Children’s, WVU
Cancer Institute and WVU Extension.

In recognition of their
generosity, the football practice field at WVU is named the Steve Antoline Family
Football Practice Facility. Also, in 2013, WVU Extension honored the Antolines
with its outstanding philanthropists award. Both are members of the WVU Foundation’sWoodburn Circle
and Irvin Stewart
donor recognition societies.